Machine fob booking matches



y 1938. J. R. NOLAN MACHINE FOR BO OKING MATCHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 8, 1936 July 12, 1938. R NOLAN MACHINE FOR sooxm'e MATCHES 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1-936 July 12, 1938. RNQLAN MACHINE FORBOOKING MATCHES Filed July 8, 1936 5 sh ets-shee't :5

J y J. R. NOLAN MACHINE FOR BOOKING MATCHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July8, 1936 m6 n /fii July 12, 1938. NQLAN I ,123,252

MACHINE FOR EOQKING MATCHES Filed July 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gaff/62Maz 6'4 30 f I L/ Patented July 12, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FORBOOKING MATCHES John R. Nolan, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to The DiamondMatch Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJuly 8, 1936, Serial No. 89,575

11 Claims.

This'invention relates to machines for booking matches, and moreparticularly to a high speed machine of the type disclosed inUnited'States Patent No. 1,042,472,. dated October. 29, 1912. Themachine forming the subject-matter of said patent comprises a carrierconsisting of an endless chain of pocketed links, (each including aresilient clamping member) constructed and arranged for intermittentmovement along an extended path in which are included in succeedingorder mechanism whereby fiat covers for match books are folded at oneend and inserted into the adjacent links in such manner that the foldsproject'rearwardly of and the bodies of the covers are clamped in thelinks; mechanism whereby conventional match cards are severed from matchstrips and pushed fiatwise into the respective links and with the basesof the cards within the end folds of the covers, the match cards thusbeing clamped against the bodies of the respective covers, and mechanismwhereby the associated cards. and covers are stapled together orotherwise bound while they are borne bythe carrier.

An object of my invention is to accomplish in a simple and efiicientmanner the association of a supplemental protection element with thematch and cover elements of each match book after the insertion of thematch cards in the cover and before the stapling. or binding operation,and this without reducing the speed of the machine or curtailing its.normal productive capacity of several hundred match books per minute.

Another object of my invention is to ensure the adjustment of the matchcards and the protection element in proper relation to the cover.

With these and other objects in View my invention comprises novelfeatures of. construction and combinations of parts which in a preferredembodiment of my invention will be hereinafter described; the scope ofthe invention. being expressed in the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings- Fig. l is a partial side elevation of a matchbooking machine equipped with protection-card applying mechanismembodying the principle of my invention, only so much of the machinebeing shown as is necessary to illustrate the invention.

V Fig. 2 is a partial plan of the machine; including the protection-cardapplying mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the protection-card applying mechanism andtheadjacent portion-of the match booking machine illustrating gearing fortransmitting motion to the said mechanism from the drive shaft of themachine.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the protectioncard applying mechanism,showing the thrust bars and their slide in retracted position and alsoshowing the adjacent carrier links and the match book covers therein.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the plural hopper for theprotection cards, as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing a suction headas positioning protection cards in the paths of the respective thrustbars.

Fig. 7 is a similar section when the slide and its thrust bars are inrearward position, showing the suction head at the limit of its downwardstroke.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the slide and thrust bars and themounting therefor, showing protection cards positioned in the effectivepath of said bars and also showing the guides for said cards.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section, as on the line 99 of Fig. 5, but showingthe thrust bar and the nozzle of the suction head in their relativepositions when the bar is at the limit of its rearward or insertingstroke and the protection card thereby associated with the complementarymatch cards and cover in the carrier.

Fig. 10 is a similar section showing the thrust bar and the suctionnozzle in their relative positions when the slide is at the limit of itsforward stroke, a protection-card being represented as positioned in theeffective path of the thrust bar.

Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the ported base of thesuction head, showing a portion of one of the vertical guides for saidbase.

Fig. 12 is asectional detail of a rotary valve and adjuncts forcontrolling the air exhaust from thesuction head, the valve beingrepresented as open.

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the valve in its cut-off position forthe release of the protection card at the instant the latter ispositioned in the effective path of the thrust bar.

Referring to the drawings, l5' designates the supporting frame includingthe table I 6 of a match booking machine; H the main cam shaft whichextends longitudinally of the frame and beneath the table; 24 atransverse drive shaft mounted in bearings25 on thebed of the main frameand having a'bevel gear- 26 in mesh with a similar gear 21 on the camshaft, and iii a portion of a carrier which is intermittently actuatedby and from the cam shaft I I through suitable gearing. The carriercomprises an endless chain of clamping links adapted to travel in alongitudinally extending guide trough I9 which is suitably supported atthe rear of the table. Flexible covers C, each folded at one end, areinserted flatwise in each succeeding pair of links so that the foldedends project through the rear of the respective links while the bodiesof the covers are clamped in the latter, which covers, as the carrierprogresses, are presented to mechanism I including a pusher a wherebymatch cards M are inserted in the links, with the uncut bases of thematch cards within the confines of the folded ends of the complementarycovers. Usually two counterpart cards of matches, one card superposed onthe other, are inserted in each link. As the carrier continues itsprogress the complementary cards and covers are presented to wirestitchers S which are supported by a frame 20 spaced from the adjacentend of the frame l5. The stitchers are actuated in timed relation to thecarrier l8 by suitable gearing, including a chain 2| passing about asprocket wheel 22 fast on the drive shaft. A channel section 23,constituting an extension of the trough l9, spans the space between thetwo frames and underlies the stitcher heads, thus guiding the carrierbelow the heads and presenting thereto, for binding, the basal ends ofthe complementary cards and covers. The assembled book elements, whenbound, are transported by the carrier to succeeding stations in the bookmaking cycle.

As herein illustrated, each carrier link comprises a base 28, withparallel side Walls 29 having inwardly overhanging flanges 38 and havingalso suitably disposed ears 3| by means of which the adjoining links arehingedly connected by pins. Within each link is arranged in the spacebetween the side walls 29 a spring clamping leaf 32 having at itsforward end an angular lip 33 which is secured to the adjacent end ofthe base 28. The leaf is inclined upwardly and rearwardly so that itsfree upper end yieldingly co-acts with the opposing under surfaces ofthe flanges, such end being slightly curved downwardly, as at 34, inorder to present a, smooth bearing surface to the cover and cards asthey are being forced into and through the link as described in theaforementioned Patent No. 1,042,472.

In accordance with my invention an attachment embodying mechanism forinserting supplemental protection elements is interposed between thematch card inserting mechanism and the stitching mechanism in suchmanner that the protection elements are accurately incorporated with theassociated covers and matches of the respective books immediately beforethe stitching of the book elements, which attachment, in an eflicientform, is as follows:

A horizontal bed plate 35 extends forwardly from the trough section 23spanning the space between the frame l5 and the stitching mechanism,such plate being conveniently supported by bracket members 36 and 31which are bolted to the frame I5 and trough section 23, respectively.Mounted in spaced parallel gibs 38 on the bed 35 is a slide 39 which isreciprocative toward and from the trough section 23 in timed relation tothe intermittent travel of the carrier l8. In the present instance themeans for reciprocating the slide includes a bell crank 40 fulcrumed ona stud 4| which is supported by a bracket 42 fixed to the adjacent endof the main frame I 5. One of the crank arms is hingedly connected bymeans of a link 43 to a lug 44 which depends from the slide 39 through asuitable slot 45 in the bed. The other arm of the bell crank is providedwith a roll 46 which is operatively fitted in the race of a face cam 41fast on a short shaft 48 which is mounted in co-axial alinement with themain shaft. The shaft 48 is journaled in a bearing bracket 49conveniently fixed to the bed of the main frame, and is provided with abevel gear 58 in mesh with the gear 26 on the drive shaft, the ratio ofthe gears being such that the shaft 48 and its cam 4'! are driven at thesame speed as the main cam shaft [1. The contour of the race of the cam41 is such that during one half rotation of that cam the slide isreciprocated toward and from the trough section, and in the other halfrotation of the cam the slide is at rest at the limit of its forwardstroke.

Fixed on and longitudinally of the upper surface of the slide, which isflush with the tops of the gibs 38, are two spaced parallel bars 5|whereof the rearward or acting ends project somewhat beyond the adjacentend of the slide and constitute thrust members adapted to engage andimpel protection cards P which are positioned in the paths of therespective members. The distance between the longitudinal median linesof the bars 5| is equal to that between the centers of two adjoininglinks of the carrier, so that in the reciprocation of the slide duringeach dwell of the carrier the projecting ends of the bars, together withthe opposing protection cards, are moved into and from the forward orreceiving ends of the pockets of two carrier links which are positionedin central alinement with the respective bars. The forward wall of thetrough section 23 is suitably recessed, as at 52, for the free passagetherethrough of the acting ends of the bars 5| and the cards engagedthereby. These bars are of rectangular cross-section and are eachangularly recessed at its rearward end to provide a shoulder 53 and aprojecting basal tongue 54, which shoulder is preferably grooved ornotched at the tongue, as indicated at 55. The bars 5| are alsopreferably inset in the slide to such a depth that the upper surfaces ofthe tongues 54 are flush with the top of the slide, or substantially so.

Spaced forwardly from the trough section 23 and overhanging the slide 39is a vertical hopper 56 having, in the present instance, two parallelmagazines which overlie the paths of the respective bars 5|. This hopperis conveniently supported on the respective gibs 38, the front and backwalls of the magazines being recessed, as at .51 and 58, respectively,for the free passage therethrough of the bars 5i during thereciprocation of the slide. Each of the'magazines is of proper size tocontain a stack of cards P, each card being of proper dimensions toconstitute a protection element to cover the matches of a match book.The lowermost card of each stack is supported at its longitudinal edgeson beveled ribs 59 which are formed on or affixed to the inner walls ofthe hopper magazine at a level slightly above the path of the thrustbar.

Mechanism is provided whereby each succeeding lowermost protection cardis separated from the stack when the slide 39 is at the limit of itsrearward stroke, during each movement of the iii carrier, which card isat once deposited in proximity to the upper surface of the slide and inproper position to be engaged at the forward end by the acting end ofthe adjacent thrust bar in the next succeeding rearward stroke of thelatter toward the carrier l8 while the carrier is at rest. That is tosay, during each rearward stroke of the slide the tongue 54 extendsunder and the shoulder squarely engages the opposing edge of theprotection card. A lateral margin of the card thus positioned in thepath of the bar 5| is supported on the adjacent gib and the oppositemargin is supported on the adjacent longitudinally recessed edge of aguide plate 68 which is conveniently attached to the foot of the hoppermid- Way between the magazines, as at 5|, and in parallelism with thegibs 38. The guide plate extends beyond the rear of the hopper and tothe end of the bed 35 at the trough section 23. The oppositelongitudinal edge of the guide plate, which is also recessed, extendsbelow the other magazine and in position to support the adjacent lateralmargin of each succeeding lowermost card when it is separated from thestack of cards in that magazine, the opposite margin of such card beingsupported on the adjacent gib 38.

Parallel plates 62 and 63 are secured on the gibs 38 and guide plate 60,so as to provide horizontal ways for the guidance of the protectioncards in flatwise condition between the hopper and the carrier.

In the rearward stroke of the slide the projecting ends of the thrustbars 5| enter the opposing links of the carrier to such an extent thatthe shouldered portions 53 move in close proximity to the heads of thecontained matches while the tongues 54 pass freely below the heads andmove a substantial extent under the match splints. (See Fig. 9.) Duringsuch stroke of the slide the forward ends of the protection cards arewell supported upon the respective tongues 54, and the shoulders 53,abutting the opposing edges of such cards, push them rearwardly throughthe parallel guideways and into the links. In their travel through thelinks the rearward-ends of the protection cards impinge against theopposing spring leaves 32 and passbetween the latter and the match cardscontiguous thereto, the leading ends of the protection cards beingplaced at the bases of the match cards in the folded rearward portionsof the respective covers. Hence the spring leaves exert a yieldingclamping action on the assembled card and cover elements. Springsupported backer members 64 for the end folds of the covers C, duringthe insertion of the protection cards in the links of the carrier, arearranged on the trough section 23 at the rear of such links.

As the slide approaches the limit of its rearward stroke the shoulders53 of the thrust bars bear squarely against the opposing heads 'of thematches if the match cards be displaced, thus positioning the matchcards in orderly relation to the book covers and the inserted protectioncards. Such shoulders in conjunction with the basal tongues 54 alsoeffect and insure the orderly guidance of the protection cards into andthrough the links in a path unobstructed by the match heads and againstthe yielding pressure of the opposing clamping leaves, which result iscontributed to by the notches 55 at the bases of the shoulders in thatthe notches receive the opposing edges of the protectioncards and tendto prevent their vertical displacement.

In the forward vorreturnrstroke of the'slide-zthe thrust bars areretracted from the links to the forward part of the hopper thus being inposition to engage the succeeding protection card presented thereto, asseen in Fig. 10.

Simple and efficient means to separate the lowermost protection cardsfrom the respective stacks and position them in the effective paths ofthe acting ends of the bars 5| as hereinbefore indicated, includes avertically reciprocative suction head having a pair of nozzles ,65 whichare movable to and below the midportions of the lower surfaces of thelowermost cards of the respective stacks. In the upward stroke of thesuction head the nozzles approach and draw thereto the two overlyingbottom cards, and in their down stroke the nozzles, by the force of thepartial vacuum, pull the cards from the stacks and deposit them upon therespective gibs 38 and the intermediate guide plate 68. In the descentof the suction head the nozzles sink below the path of the slide, (asseen in Fig. 9) thus remaining during the acting and return strokes ofthe slide, whereupon the suction head and its nozzles are again raisedand lowered preparatory to the succeeding reciprocation of the slide toand from the carrier, and so As herein illustrated the suction headcomprises a base 66 which is slidably mounted in depending guide members61 fixed to the bed 35 and which base has formed therein and lengthwisethereof a duct 68 that communicates at its ends with upstanding tubes 69terminating in the nozzles 65. The tubes are threaded into the base andare firmly secured thereto by suitably-disposed lock nuts Ill on thetubes. The duct 68 has an outlet H which is fiexiblyconnected, as

by a =hose 12, with a suitably located vacuum chamber or barrel 13. Thischamber, which is conveniently supported beneath the bed 35, is, in

turn, connected to a pipe 14 leading to a suitable air exhaust line.

Depending from the base member 66 is a rod 15 having a foot bracket '16equipped with a roll 11 which rests on the periphery of the cam 41,

being resiliently held in this position by compression springs 18whichencircle the respective tubes 69 of the suction head. Suitably locatedon the periphery of the cam is a cam projection 18 which is so disposedthat when the slide 39 is at rest at the limit of its forward or outerstroke, the projection passes under and escapes the roll, whichprojection, in conjunction with the springs, effects the requisitevertical reciprocation of the base member and its appurte- -nances.

In order to relieve the cards from the suction action of the nozzleswhen the cards have been thereby removed from the respective stacks andseated in the paths of the thrust bars 5|, the pipe 14 leading to thevacuum chamber is provided with a rotary valve whereof the port 8| is in:open and closed positions respectively at determined intervals duringthe reciprocation :of the suction head. In the present instance theprojecting .axial stud 82 of the valve has "affixed thereto an arm 83having a sliding pin and slot connection 84 with the actuating rod :15for the base-66, and the relationof the valve lport 8l to theco-operatively related ports 85 of the valve casing 86 are such that inthe upstroke of the rod the valve 'is partially turned to open :theports and thereby avail of the force of the vacuum, and that in thesucceeding stroke of the red, the valve is reversely .moved to close theports and thus reduce the pressure as and W5- when the protection cardsare positioned in the paths of the acting ends of the respective thrustbars 5|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides protectioncard applying mechanism which efiiciently cooperates with the units of ahigh speed match booking machine to the full capacity of the machine.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanismsmay be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim 1. In a match booking machine having a carrier constructed toclamp and transport a succession of assembled covers and match cards,mechanism for associating protection cards with the complementary matchcards and covers previously clamped in the carrier and including athrust member having a notch for engaging succeeding protection cardsand inserting them in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the matchheads and longitudinally of the proximate match cards and forpositioning said protection cards in clamping relation to the saidcomplementary match cards and covers, said thrust member also having amatch engaging member for assuring the orderly relation of said matchcards and said protection cards in the covers, and means for supplyingprotection cards to the eifective path of the thrust member atdetermined intervals.

2. In a match booking machine having a carrier constructed to clamp andtransport a succession of assembled covers and match cards, mechanismfor associating protection cards with the complementary match cards andthe covers previously clamped in the carrier and including a thrustmember having an angular end portion constituting a shoulder and tonguefor engaging succeeding protection cards and inserting them in thecarrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads and longitudinally ofthe proximate match cards and for positioning said protection cards inclamping relation to the complementary match cards and covers, saidthrust member also having a match engaging member for assuring theorderly relation of said match cards and said protection cards in thecovers, and means for supplying protection cards to the effective pathof the thrust member at determined intervals.

3. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality of clamping elements to transport a succession of covers,means for inserting cards of matches in the said elements and assemblingthem with the respective covers borne by the carrier, and means forbinding together the assembled cards and covers, of mechanism forassociating protection cards with the complementary match cards andcovers previously clamped in the carrier and including a thrust memberhaving a notch for engaging succeeding protection cards and insertingthem in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads andlongitudinally of the proximate clamped match cards and for positioningsaid protection cards in clamping relation to the complementary matchcards and covers, said thrust member also having a match engaging memberfor assuring the orderly relation of said match cards and saidprotection cards in the covers, and means for supplying protection cardsto the effective path of the thrust member at determined intervals, saidmechanism being located adjacent the path of the carrier and between thematch card inserting means and the binding means.

4. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality. of clamping elements to transport a succession of covers,means for inserting cards of matches in the said elements and assemblingthem with the respective covers borne by the carrier and means forbinding together the assembled cards and covers, of mechanism forassociating protection cards with the complementary match cards andcovers previously assembled and clamped in the carrier and including athrust member for engaging succeeding protection cards and insertingthem in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads andlongitudinally of the proximate match cards and for pcsitioning saidprotection cards in clamping relation to the complementary match cardsand covers, and means for supplying protection cards to the effectivepath of the thrust member at determined intervals, the acting end ofsaid thrust member having a card-engaging notch and a match engagingshoulder for assuring the orderly relation of said match cards and saidprotection cards in the covers, the said mechanism being locatedadjacent the path of the carrier and between the match card insertingmeans and the binding means.

5. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality of clamping elements to transport covers, means forinserting cards of matches in the said elements and assembling them withthe respective covers borne by the carrier, and means for bindingtogether the assembled cards and covers, of mechanism including areciprocative thrust member having an angular end portion constituting anotch, a shoulder and tongue for engaging succeeding protection cardsand inserting them in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the matchheads and longitudinally of the proximate match cards and forpositioning said protection cards in clamping relation to thecomplementary match cards and covers previously assembled and clamped inthe carrier, and means for supplying protection cards to the eiTectivepath of the thrust member at determined intervals, the said mechanismbeing located adjacent the path of the carrier and between the matchcard inserting means and the binding means, the said notch and shoulderof the thrust member assuring the orderly relation of said match cardsand said protection cards in the covers.

6. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality of clamping elements to transport covers, means forinserting cards of matches in the said elements and assembling them withthe respective covers borne by the carrier, and means for bindingtogether the assembled cards and covers, of mechanism including areciprocative thrust member having an angular end portion constituting ashoulder and tongue for engaging succeeding protection cards andinserting them in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match headsand longitudinally of the proximate match cards and for positioning saidprotection cards in clamping relation to the complementary match cardsand covers previously assembled and clamped in the carrier, and meansfor supplying protection cards to the eiTective path of the thrustmember at determined intervals, said shoulder having a card receivingnotch at the base thereof and the said mechanism being located adjacentthe path of the carrier and between the match card inserting means andthe binding means, the said notch and shoulder of the thrust memberassuring the orderly relation of said match cards and said protectioncards in the covers.

7. In a match booking machine comprising a carrier adapted to transporta succession of assembled covers and match cards, means including athrust member for engaging succeeding protection cards and insertingthem in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads andlongitudinally of the proximate match cards, and means for positioningprotection cards in the path of the thrust member comprising protectioncard supply means, a reciprocative air suction element in co-operativerelation to said supply means, and means for actuating said suctionelement in timed relation to the thrust member.

8. In a match booking machine comprising a carrier adapted to transporta succession of assembled. covers and match cards, means including athrust member for engaging succeeding protection cards and insertingthem in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads andlongitudinally of the proximate match cards, means for supplyingprotection cards to the path of the thrust member comprising protectioncard supply means, a reciprocative air suction element in co-operativerelation to said supply means, means for actuating said suction elementin timed relation to the thrust member, and means for controlling theactive and idle periods of the suction element.

9. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality of clamping elements to transport covers, means forinserting cards of matches in the said elements and assembling them withthe respective covers borne by the carrier, and means for bindingtogether the assembled cards and covers, of a slide located laterally ofthe carrier and between the card inserting means and the binding means,a thrust member carried by said slide for inserting protection cards inthe carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads and longitudinallyof the proximate match cards and for positioning said protection cardsin clamping relation to the complementary match cards and covers, adriven shaft, a cam thereon, operative connections between the cam andthe slide, protection card supply means, an air suction element inco-operative relation to the supply means, and means for actuating saidsuction element in timed relation to the thrust-member.

10. In a match booking machine, the combination with a carrier includinga plurality of clamping elements to transport covers, means forinserting cards of matches in the said elements and assembling them withthe respective covers borne by the carrier, and means for bindingtogether the assembled cards and covers, of a slide located laterally ofthe carrier and between the match card inserting means and the bindingmeans, a thrust member carried by said slide for inserting protectioncards in the carrier in a path unobstructed by the match heads andlongitudinally of the proximate match cards and for positioning saidprotection cards in clamping relation to the complementary match cardsand covers, a driven shaft, a cam thereon, operative connections betweenthe cam and the slide, protection card supply means, an air suctionelement in co-operative relation to said supply means, means foractuating said suction element in timed relation to the thrust member,and means for controlling the active and idle periods of the suctionelement.

11. A match booking machine having a protection card supplying station,a carrier for successsively presenting assembled covers and match cardsto protection card receiving position at said station, means forinserting a protection card into each cover over the match card thereinwhile at the said station, said inserting means having a notch forengaging the card and a shoulder for engaging the heads of the matchesfor assuring the orderly relation of the match cards and the coversduring the insertion of the protection card, and means for actuating thecarrier and protection card inserting means in timed relation.

JOHN R. NOLAN.

